The Liver Connection

The liver is the body's largest organ and uses up to 20 percent of the body's total energy. It has over 500 known functions regulating the metabolism of each cell. Blood circulates through the liver every seventeen minutes and one of the Liver’s major functions is the cleansing of the blood before it is delivered around the body. It is one of the few organs that is capable of being regenerated if badly damaged or destroyed.

Nutrients and Energy

From "The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush" by Andreas Moritz.

"Since the liver is in charge of processing, converting, distributing, and maintaining the body's vital "fuel" supply (for example, nutrients and energy), anything that interferes with these functions must have a serious, detrimental impact on the health of the liver and the body as a whole. The strongest interference stems from the presence of gallstones.”

"Besides manufacturing cholesterol - an essential building material of organ cells, hormones, and bile - the liver also produces hormones and proteins that affect the way the body functions, grows, and heals. Furthermore, it makes new amino acids and converts existing ones into proteins. These proteins are the main building blocks of the cells, hormones, neurotransmitters, genes, and so forth. Other essential functions of the liver include breaking down old, worn-out cells; recycling proteins and iron; and storing vitamins and nutrients. Gallstones are a hazard to all those vital tasks."

Notice that he states that cholesterol is “an essential building material of organ cells, hormones, and bile”. What does he mean by saying that cholesterol is “essential”?

Storing/Releasing GLucose

Dr. Mark Starr M.D. writes...

"The liver is responsible for storing glucose (sugar) during digestion and releasing glucose after the cessation of digestion. ... It is imperative for our bodies to maintain constant glucose supplies. It is the primary fuel used by the brain and central nervous system."

Treatment for hypothyroidism has been shown to normalise the patient's liver enzymes, diabetes symptoms, and skin colour after a buildup of carotene resulted in a yellowish tinge. Compromised liver function can also give rise to cholesterol levels as hypothyroidism progresses.

Fat-Soluble Vitamin D

Dr. Carolyn Dean writes:

“Vitamin D is converted to 25-hydoxyvitamin D in the liver and 1,25(OH)2D in the kidneys and other organs as needed. The 1,25(OH)2D metabolite of vitamin D is actually a hormone required by many sites throughout the body.“

Manufactures bile salts that are used to emulsify fats and fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K) for proper digestive absorption.

Virtually every nutrient, (vitamin, mineral, amino acid, etc.) must be transformed into its proper biochemical form in which the nutrient may be stored, transported or used in cellular metabolism. For instance, B vitamins are transformed into their active coenzyme forms such as thiamine pyrophosphate (B1), flavine adenine dinucleotide (B2), nicotinadenine dinucleotide (B3), etc. Beta-carotene must be changed into real vitamin A, iron and copper must be changed into ferritin or ceruloplasmin.

Stores nutrients such as A, D, B12 and iron, for release as needed.

Extracts lactic acid from working muscles and converts it into glycogen (reserve fuel).

Converts stored glycogen into glucose when sugar reserves are low.

Regulates protein metabolism .

Breaks down and detoxifies all elements that are toxic to the body, including metabolic wastes, insecticide residues, drugs, alcohol, industrial and food processing chemicals, and more.

Disposes of ammonia, an extremely toxic by-product of protein metabolism.

Breaks down hormones after they have served their messenger function to their target cells. Breaks down insulin, metabolises estrogens, disposes all used adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone).